INTRODUCTION. Ux 
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., has conimiinicatefl to me the following interesting' fact in connexion with this 
bird “ A Mr. Noble once noticed at Blackwall, near Darlington, an object on a fir tree which he took for 
a Pheasant ; but on firing at it he found that, instead of a Pheasant, it was a great ball of Long-tailed Tits. 
He told me that he did not kill less than a dozen. My father informs me that the South-African Colies 
roost congregated in bunches 5 and I have witnessed the same in the Artamus sordidus in Tasmania. 
78 . Mecistura caudata 
Long-tailed Tit (young). 
Vol. II. PI. XXIX. 
79 . Calamophilus biarmicus 
Bearded Tit. 
Family ? 
Genus Calamophilus. 
Vol. II. PI. XXX. 
A resident species in the marshes and along the sides of the rivers of our eastern counties ; but the 
drainage of the former and the clearance of the sedges of the latter have greatly diminished the numbers of 
this lovely little bird. Still it is common with us, and even more so in Holland and other fluviatile districts 
of Central Europe. 
This bird is by no means a genuine Tit, although it is commonly so called, and is placed here for the 
want of a more natural situation. 
Family ORIOLID^. 
A group of Old-World birds, the members of which are beautifully coloured, yellow and black being the 
prevailing tints, particularly of that section of them typified by tlie Oriolus galbiila. The countries they 
frequent are either hot or temperate, Africa, India, China, the Philippines, Java, Sumatra, and some of the 
islands of the Eastern Archipelago being tenanted by one or other of the species. 
80 . Oriolus galbula 
Golden Oriole. 
Genus Oriolus. 
Vol. II. PI. XXXI. 
Although common in many parts of Europe during the breeding-season, with us it is a rare bird, and 
must be included among our accidental spring visitants. In the Scilly Islands five or six are often seen 
together; but after remaining there quite unmolested for two or three weeks, they invariably betake 
themselves to the mainland, wliere persecution and death await them. The following note from my friend 
